I've had two henchwomen (wenches :D ) through chapter 1. Sharwyn, the bard, has too many abilities with too low an a.i. to be effective. She tends to burn out all her spells before I need healing, and in melee combat she always tries to disarm, drawing attacks of oppertunities to her low AC and getting killed. If she has a bow, she stays alive longer, but doesn't do much good...

Linu is for my playing style much more effective. She seems much mroe conservative with casting her spells, and she is better in melee (although the higher level I get, the weaker she seems in comparison).

I think it depends on what type of character you're playing, and you're playing style. Try taking one of them on each of the main quests in Chapter 1 and see who you like the best.

I too like Linu. She's 13th level right now and can cast heal. What bugs me is when i get down to half hits and she tries to heal me. I appreciate the effort but then she takes a bunch of attacks of opportunity and gets so beat up then she has to heal herself. [img]smile.gif[/img] But the fact that she can turn undead and has a plus three mace makes up for things.

DeSoya

Well i'm a level 3 fighter lv. 3 mage and i have a pixe for a familiar and so far i haven't needed a hanchman and the pixe has been able to disarm and unlock everything in our way. So you might try going through with a henchman you even wind up with more level, at least thats the way it has been with me.

Since I'm a male fighter, I will only hire female hirelings and there are only two female hireling in the game. Linu and Sharwyn. I pick Sharwyn because she can cast spell, can heal, can fighter pretty well and can pick locks.

i like Grimgnaw (dwarf monk)...he can hold his own [img]smile.gif[/img]

trapped and locked chests get blown up! who needs a thief? i have a high Search, so i can usually just walk around traps...and if i cant, ill send a minion ahead [img]tongue.gif[/img]

That monk (Grimgnaw?) frightens me. I don't mean my characters, I mean me. I wish Paladins still had detect evil so I could smite his evilness to smotenville and I could sleep easier at night.

I haven't heard anyone speak out for the gnome sorcerer yet? I like his dialogue from the intro, but have yet to play a character (and am unlikely to) that could use a sorcerer sidekick.

Grimgnaw is my fave! he's one cold killer! ;)